Postgame wrap

News, notes and observations following the Raiders’ 20-19 win over the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field:

— What an incredible roller coaster ride of a game.

The fluctuation in quality of play under Tom Cable is remarkable. The Raiders can look error-prone and amateurish one week and positively heroic seven days later. Cable used the word “spectacular” in describing his team’s defense, and it wasn’t hyperbole.

From holding the Broncos to a pair of field goals on their first two drives, to keeping them out of the end zone after Kyle Orton’s 63-yard pass to Brandon Stokely, to Michael Huff’s magnificent breakup of an Orton pass to Brandon Marshall on the second-to-last play, the Raiders played _ dare I say it _ championship level defense.

Very few missed tackles. Tight coverage. Just one really big mistake on the Stokely play. Tommy Kelly played so hard he lost his pants. Knowshon Moreno looks unstoppable on the first two drives _ I had him pegged at that point for at least 125 yards _ and ends up with 49 yards. He had 39 yards rushing after three possessions.

— The bottom line is JaMarcus Russell is largely responsible for his plight this season, but still, when Michael Bush dropped a sure first-down pass on one of his first series, you wonder if the guy can catch a break.

Yes, he missed an open Louis Murphy on a key third-down throw. But he got off the deck after giving way to J.P. Losman after being knocked out for a play and delivered a 10-yard strike for a first down, and led a game-winning drive against a division rival.

Russell didn’t gloat following a win in the same way he doesn’t seem to gnash his teeth over a loss.

“I always say everybody is going to have their opinion. As long as my teammates have faith, and I have faith in those guys,” Russell said. `There’s always going to be tough times. It’s how you come up from behind and fight those tough times off.”

Russell’s teammates seemed genuinely happy for him.

“I don’t think words can explain,” tackle Mario Henderson said. “He’s the No. 1 overall draft pick. He’s been hearing it from Day 1. For him to come in and do what he did today was amazing. One thing we did was step up behind him. We didn’t abandon him . . . the thing he showed us today is he was ready for the chance, he came back out strong and helped us when we needed it.”

Said tight end Tony Stewart: “The man has been freaking dragged through the mud and people have been taking shots at him and the man has just been standing tall. He has a lot of growing up to do but when it came time he stepped up and did the job.”

— Cable’s response about the quarterback for next week against Cleveland: “We’ll have to sort through the bodies on the way home and decide. Charlie was playing really well before he got knocked out. If he’s ready to go he’ll play. If not, we’ll go with JaMarcus but it’s too early to tell.”

It’s worth noting Cable didn’t go overboard and limit what Russell did to his final drive.

“He missed a couple throws that could have changed it earlier, but what he did was he stayed in tehre and got it and I think that’s the part we should all be excited about,” Cable said. “They put some rush to it there at the end and brought a cople guys and were under some pressure, especially when we crossed midfield. But once we got down there I thought he handled it pretty well. He got some protection and was able to make a play.”

— Frye was well enough following his concussion to talk to reporters after the game.

“My buddy from Cleveland, Andra Davis, came up the middle and got me pretty good and my head hit the ground,” Frye said. “This league is obviously putting a lot of emphasis on head injuries and with good reason. Obviously it worked out. JaMarcus came in and played great and Chaz caught the touchdown. You couldn’t have written a better script.”

— Bush, the only back to gain 100 yards in a game this season for the Raiders, also became the second, gaining 133 yards on 18 carries and leading a season-best 241-yard rushing performance. Darren McFadden had 74 yards on 12 carries _ the second-highest total of his career. Bush had 23-yard touchdown run (getting a huge block from Langston Walker) and a 40-yard run.

Both runners were stone-walled near the end zone, however, and McFadden lost a fumble, a mistake that looked as if it would cost the Raiders the game.

Justin Fargas left the game early after “tweaking” a knee.

“Let’s face it, everybody would be happy to to have what we have here (at the running back position),” Cable said. “If you were anywhere else and you only had Mike or Darren . . . fortunately wehave two more running backs you can run to. Those guys block i pretty well, run it hard and it was a good day.”

It was deja vu for Bush, who recalled last year’s 177-yard effort in the season finale at Tampa Bay.

“A game like this reminds me of last year,” Bush said. “In Tampa, the guys went down last year and I stepped in, same thing as today. Fargas went down a little bit and we needed someone else to pick up the slack. that is why you need a stable of backs like we have.”

— Denver coach Josh McDaniels conceded that settling with field goals on their first two red zone opportunities _ leading 6-0 instead of 14-0 _ played a huge role. He didn’t help matters by calling a Kyle Orton quarterack sneak which came up way short and a gadget pass to eligible tackle Ryan Clady on the next series which was correctly diagnosed by Asomugha.

“All year, we’ve kind of let teams hang around, and we’ve been fortunate enough to win most of those games,” Orton said. “You do it long enough and you don’t put teams away, and it comes back to bite you like it did today.”

— Frye and tight end Brandon Myers didn’t finish the game with concussions. Fargas, Cable said, possibly could have continued if the Raiders needed an “emergency” runner. Chris Johnson sprained an ankle.

“He was able to play some and then he had to come out,” Cable said.

— The Raiders used tackle Erik Pears as an extra blocker in some sets.

— The game was delayed at one point as officials directed law enforcement to try and find someone shining a laser light into the face of Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. There were a few scuffles as tempers were both on short sides.

Post navigation

That’s right, Spain did tell Bush to pound sand when he asked them to join him in the crime of the century. Good for Spain.

Charlie

Mr Davis has routinely drafted Olineman and Dlineman in the first and second round. Since 2000 we have only done it with Gallery and Grove. A huge departure from traditional (pre 2000) Raider drafts.
We will get back to it since it is the last piece of the puzzle.We will also avoid high priced free agents.
Huge changes since Cable got involved and more are on the way. (Getting Seymour was just the start of the line focus).
We can go on and on about how it got this way but Lombardi had alot to do with it.

If Cable isn’t fired and isn’t forced out of the ZBS the Raiders won’t spend any draft picks on O linemen in the 1st few rounds….Cable made it clear when he was hired that effective ZBS linemen can be had thru free agency and later rounds in the draft.

spellcheck

I sure you wouldn’t you’re still working on a simple grasp of football

VanHeathen

Nice Win Yesterday,
Defense showed up big time,
Cable saved his job, Frye looked like a backup, as did JR. same mistakes, still not very accurate, nearly fumbled away game, again…
Bush and Dmac need to be the primary backs.
Grads is still the BEST QB on this team right now, and into next year.
JR’s problems are not going to be fixed in one off season, especially if he’s on the ‘tussin and Partyin’ on Friday nites instead of watching film…

Was it me or someone else who embarrassed you out of your last moniker?

morilla

that was great, I don’t care how they did it.

-good to see Bush getting his carries and lighting it up. That needs to continue.

– good to see Dmac poke his head out and say hello. Still issues with his game. Fumbilitis and cutting to the inside on the 4th a goal try, WTF?! You are supposed to be a speadster, head for the pylon. You have already proven you are not a hitter.

– And as for JaRuss, he still scares the sh-t out of me. Too slow for a nfl QB. Needs to cut 20lbs and work with a conditioning coach. And his accuracy still blows.

new englandraider

hey spellcheck. instead of correcting people on typos, you ought to go back and read some of your previous posts. u dont know when to use your/you’re. i’ll give u a 4th grade grammar lesson. your is a possesive term. your ugly wife. your studid comments. get it? then we’ve got the contraction you’re. i.e. you’re an idiot. you’re a jacka$$. you’re not the one who should be questioning what people sound like when they speak. do u sound like miss teen south carolina when u speak?

There are terrorist in the Basque Country, Spain. They want to be independent from Spain and thats not going to happen. I live in the Basque Country, but the terrorist obviously not, they are in South America and France and they just come to put a bomb or killing somebody (once every 2 years)

DKnight007

Charlie Says:
December 21st, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Mr Davis has routinely drafted Olineman and Dlineman in the first and second round. Since 2000 we have only done it with Gallery and Grove. A huge departure from traditional (pre 2000) Raider drafts.
We will get back to it since it is the last piece of the puzzle.We will also avoid high priced free agents.
Huge changes since Cable got involved and more are on the way. (Getting Seymour was just the start of the line focus).
We can go on and on about how it got this way but Lombardi had alot to do with it.

^^^^^^^^^
When I look at the draft, if the Raiders get a 5-7 pick and if Suh falls to #3….they should seriously consider trading up for him.

Cut Warren…..restructure down Kellys contract and either tag Seymour or sign him to a 4 year deal. If they tag him and a team offers him a big deal and Raiders don’t match they get two 1st rounders.

Suh will be the next Seymour….IF not better! Suh is lighter and quicker than Seymour and probably stronger.

spell check u seem to have a problem with where people r from. where u from. probably a town where the men are men and the sheep are nervous. what’s the #1 rated tv show where ur at. TOUCHED BY AN UNCLE?

What time’s Dave picking you up today, spellcheck? And why aren’t you asking for Br ien?

raideredoutL.A.

who’s are rb coach? need to stress ball security to dmac and bush. bush was fumbling with no one around him on the flat, got a lucky bounce on a fumble to henderson and well… dmac, what was it 3 lost fumbles to denver this yr. alone?

Well, it got silly in here. I think it’s because everyone knows that Frye is going to get his spleen broken with this offensive line protecting him. See y’all later. Heading to Warriors game..,Dave picking me up in the R.V…, some herbs and wine…,

raideredoutL.A.

i thought that jp foschi guy was one of those players that can only play for the raiders but turns out he can play, had 7 catches yesterday.

El Tato

He was a FB for us, Foschi was a TE in College and is playing TE with Cincy, thats why he can play

raideredoutL.A.

that and he has a good qb, that has a good o-line as well

El Tato

that and he has a good qb, that has a good o-line as well

————————–

yeah, I guess thats important too

raideredoutL.A.

next week should be entertaining to say the least.

DKnight007

The Real MaddenRaider Says:
December 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Vegas Raider, you have admit that the scene where Paul Rodriguez thinks the answering machine is Jesus talking to him, while he’s watching the Playboy channel, is a f’n riot.